Disclaimer: No matter how many times I roll my eyes, it has to be done. So, like every law-abiding citizen, wishing to continue with my writing in peace without being persecuted, I denounce any rights over Fairy Tail characters who belong to Hiro Mashima respectively. And whoever else helped him design or figure countless characters out... What? You think he did that all by himself? Puh-lease. On with the show!
Indomitable Heart
Chapter 17: Ode To the Fallen
''Fuck, fuck...'' Hector cursed internally, his brow sweating, ''Shit!'' He barely dodged a rusted sword that tried to decapitate him.
''Curious, they possess no sound mind, yet move as if an organized colony of sorts... Hmm, a hive-mind perhaps?''
Rolling his eyes in exasperation, the man breathed deeply while preforming an elaborate sweep of his hand that caused a gust that blew the walking skeletons. At least the mass effect was still into account. ''Not that I don't find your musings interesting, but please, we are at serious disadvantage here.''
By his estimate, he was somewhere on the outskirts of the town, he could make out the unfinished walls just kilometer away, but all that was less important now compared to the mess he's gotten himself in. Totally not his fault!
''Ahh, in the face of the severe adversity, you start showing fear. Good to know your senses aren't completely dulled.''
''Good gods...'' If he wasn't so busy fighting for his life, he'd have said more things that are not for everyday ears. His foster father, the old sailor had a habit of killing time by inventing new ways of cussing, completely disregarding what then young Hector might pick up from him.
''Yes? Oh, was that supposed to be an insult? Fine, this one will abstain from further inquiries during combat.''
''I could use a little help then...'' The scion of Illum grunted, blocking three strikes simultaneously with a shimmering weapon that materialized seemingly out of thin air. ''And your wisdom, leave the scholar's curiosity aside for now!''
''... You do realize that meddling with the dead is not my strong point? It is hardly any other gods' domain.'' With good reason. Concepts such as |Death| or |Life| specifically fall under the jurisdiction of very few individuals.
''Isn't. That. Convenient!'' Palm opened, Hector blasted the skeleton in a shabby soldier's grab, not wanting to watch where it ended, he pushed the remaining two undead, one missing an arm lost all footing and Hector capitalized immediately by spearing him and using the decaying bones like a makeshift club to bash the third.
Both undead exploded in a heap of bones and scattered dirt.
The only living in the area sighed slowly, ''Damn...'' He pulled his arm back and whatever he was gripping was nowhere in sight anymore. ''What now?'' He asked aloud, this was most likely not an isolated incident. He could feel the very chill in his bones just by being near this place now that the battle high was slowly leaving him and his heartbeat returning to normal.
The inner voice hardly offered any advice and Hector was fairly certain it didn't really care about how other humans' lives met their fate. But did he himself care? Should he care?
''This is not helping.'' Standing around won't do him any good, especially if more of those thing suddenly decide to pop out from their unmarked graves... ''Grave? Oh, no, by Poseidon's bastards, NO!''
''Do you finally understand? If a stray dead can emerge from any place in the vicinity, what would happen if a mass burial site was nearby...''
''Asking other gods for help is not an option?'' Though he suspected the answer, he still felt inclined to ask.
''Unlikely, even if you offered a thousand pleas it would fall on deaf ears... On another hand, gods are hardly compelled to clean up the messes caused by human stupidity.''
It couldn't be more blunt as that. Even still, Hector was hesitant in his mind to draw conclusion, but the answer pretty much pointed at a specific culprit.
''I still cannot believe that he... What could have happened that caused him to stray from noble path...?''
Depravity for one thing. But even in the recesses of the mortal mind, Aeolus would not draw conclusions. Instead, he needed to shift the winds and direct his host at the proper direction for now. ''Whether that human is or isn't responsible for this matters not. You have your own path to follow. Besides, the Vessel of Helios is in that place, yes? It would be more than enough to handle any inconvenience.''
Right, because this is nothing but a mere inconvenience to them, huh?
Sighing wearily again, Hector turned to a different direction and forced his body into a stride. Igneous will have to deal with any troubles that might spawn inside the populated area. Not that he doubted the younger man, he was his part-time instructor in handling weapons. Even if he'd suspect he learned more while playing a part of a gladiator. As for himself, he'd get to the bottom of this, in his own way.
As the gray clouds started blocking the sun, the opening fields were losing their vibrancy, and in front of Hector, a grim-looking path emerged leading far behind the fairly well constructed town, it's end destination – a cemetery.
The dozens of scattered remains were left in his wake, from the ground, a sinister miasma started to leak.
XxX
A sudden chill washed over Igneous, causing goosebumps to appear on his arms and back. That was not normal. Anytime something like that would occur it was a bad omen, a danger nearby... But no matter how quickly he checked around him; backalley, a dilapidated house, a creaked door? Nothing made sense? Where was all that feeling of foreboding coming from?
Iona too noticed an oddity, although her senses were only developed enough to pick small signs. Air was a bit thicker and dryer, the slight breeze always accompanying the closeness of the mountains was gone, the sky was... swallowing the sun all of a sudden? ''It was clear just a few moments ago... But that shouldn't be possible. A weather manipulation? Only two persons I know can bend the elements to such limits...'' Hector would hardly be bothered to pull it off without a good reason, and that blasted witch was, to her knowledge, far away in the capital; skulking in the shadows and helping in whatever plot their partners envisioned come to fruition.
The final clue which confirmed her suspicions was right beside... – or more precisely he stopped a good length behind, looking like he was ready to face whatever attacker may appear in the middle of the street. She went to open her mouth, but her voice hitched at the last moment. Dammit, dammit dammit! Why was it so hard to just talk to him as of late?! She mentally scolded herself, grandmother would be very disappointed, Leartes, her prickly cousin would either tease her or throw some remark about proper conduct between man and a woman...
'Iona, child, you will meet more people outside. Some of friendly disposition, some repulsive in nature and part of them quite unmoved by casual emotion. You may have failed to be a mage at my level but never allow your words be driven by fear. We are all given a gift of tongues, you more so than others with your grasp on medicinal arts. How do you treat something if you do not ask the right questions? It is not much different than a path of a mage, how you act upon it matters the most! Now, off you go, my child.'
That was the last she spoke to her grandmother before departing the safety of the Crypteia. She never met her mother, and never thought to ask. It was a sort of a commonplace in their new society; everyone had someone dear to them lost in the war, be it a close kin, lover, parent, child... Bringing all those memories upon the surface would be like aggravating a still fresh wound.
Taking a calming breath, she let the words resonate within her entire being. Why should she be afraid of talking to a single man? Hah, her whole life she's been surrounded by them with only her grandmother and that one person there to fill the void of a somewhat normal female company. So why does it matter if it's Igneous, sure he looked a bit rugged with the scars and had a bit of a edgy persona on a side, but he never gave her any real reason to be afraid of him. Not intentionally at least...
He was also brave, generous and honest, all the good traits and really had the most exotic-
''You felt it too, did you not?''
– Red eyes that were looking down on her, burning gaze upon her small stature... Gods WHY?!
Igneous blinked when Iona recoiled as presented with something gross. He didn't smell that bad, did he? This was getting annoying now, he couldn't really place his finger on it, but from what Laertes told him she was actually wary of his power.(?) He didn't draw any other conclusion from that, but right now he needed her to be focused.
''There is something wrong in this city.'' The red-head continued, hoping secretly it would spur her to follow his train of thoughts, ''I felt it the moment we first entered, but then it was weak... Now, it is almost permeating the entire place.''
He was pleased when Iona, at last, nodded along with his observation. The sandy blonde was thoughtful, briefly gazing upwards to find the eternally glowing sun nearly completely blocked. ''I only feel it as if its trying to stifle the very air we breathe... The feeling is quite-''
''-Foul and suffocating.'' Igneous said gravely.
Again, she was forced to agree. The next thing she decided to tell was going to weigh heavily on her consciousness, she wanted it to be wrong, ''When we were in Teacher's house, did you notice the same thing? Did it... Did you notice anything odd or out of place?'' Here goes nothing.
''No...''
It almost made Iona smile.
''... Yet there was something about that man.''
Her hopes were bashed in not under two measly seconds. ''What was it?'' She asked with a heavy heart.
''He exuded peculiar scent.'' His face twisted at the memory, back then he tried to suppress it the best he could. It wouldn't do good to outright tell your host right in his face that he stank. Of course, Igneous would have done it if he were alone with the old man, but since Iona nor Laertes didn't brought it up, he chalked it up to his heightened nose power. Much as it was useful, sometimes it could be a real bother, especially with new and unfamiliar scents such as the one on the old man.
Say what? ''You... smelled it?''
''They didn't bother telling you? My nose is better than most animals, and my ears are not far behind.'' Igneous supplied easily, really he didn't see the point in hiding that. Not from Iona at least.
Never in her life has Iona heard something like this. Yes, there were ways to augment some of your five senses with certain help of magic from what she's heard. But outright having them active on such level throughout the entire time you're awake... That sounded almost as one more unruly member of Crypteia could accomplish. And that kind of magic is not something she would ever want to dabble with, at all.
Igneous expected an answer and she quickly gave both verbal and non-verbal one. ''No... No, I never even knew.'' Curiosity bested her before she found a way to control what she said next. ''Is that a form of Animal Possession Aspect?'' She expected many things of Igneous to respond to such a direct and frankly, quite personal question.
She didn't expect him to outright give her a tight grin, and something in his eyes just seemed to glint with what could only be described as a superiority.
''I'm better than him.''
It was a cold fact, nothing more, that was spoken with such conviction and pride, it made her neck sweaty and her palms slightly damp. She really screwed that one, Igneous knew exactly what she referred to.
Igneous turned his head slightly, ear facing the girl and he snorted softly. ''Calm yourself, I need a clear-headed Iona now, not that...''
She could tell her blood was rushing to her cheeks, so she tried to cover her bashful side in vain, ''Hmph, and you are such an expert on matters of a woman's heart?''
Igneous gave her a flat look, ''Never have I claimed such... Yet I don't need to witness yours bursting from the confines of your chest.''
This man... Ugh! ''R-Really now? You have nothing better to do than listen to the beats of my c-chest?'' She huffed and turned her back to him, starring at nothing in particular on the stonewall of a vendor's house.
The former gladiator went a hand through his hair, this was getting nowhere now, ''If you must know, Laertes gave me specific instructions to protect you until whatever he gave you was delivered. Standing here leads us further from task.'' He didn't understand what the fuss was about that package or whatever was wrapped in the cloth. The way the older Colchis spoke was like they were all in immediate danger. But from what exactly? Could it have to do something with the old medicus? Igneous didn't want to exclude the possibility, even if that man was once part of the same organization. The way he spoke about it, it wasn't outright hatred, but at the same time he obviously didn't approve of Crypteia's actions.
Iona reached deep in her hidden satchel of supplies, and pulled out the package. It looked hastily made, and the object inside was hard to the touch, or was it? She turned it to Igneous and showed the object to him, ''Can you make sense of this? With your gifts?''
The man understood she didn't want to use any incriminating words, not with more people starting to show for another day's work. He carefully took it, and at first whiff, he didn't get anything special. The cloth was honestly some dirty thing Laertes had on him for one reason or another... Was that dried blood on it? He shook it somewhat, and heard a distinct sound of something sloshing. ''There is liquid inside.''
''Liquid? How could he put... Of course!'' The female healer realized, quickly unwrapping it and found the container made of colorless material. Mages and some healer scholars used it to keep samples and store various distilled products for later use. These were not at all common nowadays.
Igneous peered at the contents, ''Is that wine?'' He asked quizzically.
Iona removed the stopper and let him take a whiff of what he confirmed was indeed the beverage in question. ''Why would Laertes give us this?'' It made little sense, the only other option she didn't want to think about. She took a closer look, but visual approach would reveal nothing. ''Perhaps I should...''
A hand grabbed hers before she decided to lean the glass object and take it to her mouth, Igneous was far more vocal in his deduction than her, ''That could very well be poison.''
''Can you smell that it's poisonous?''
He couldn't exactly tell that. Because every new scent he encounters is stored within his mind for the next time should he encounter it and learn to either avoid or follow with his instincts. That lesson was much older and ingrained in him far before Crypteia decided to train him in warfare of men. ''I cannot, but I'm not willing to take that risk. The orders to keep you from harm still bind me, and be it intentional or not I will not let it come to pass.''
That was sweet at the same time as it was infuriatingly stubborn. Warriors mindset, obviously, she shouldn't have expected anything different at this point from him. She snatched her arm back, surprised he didn't have a firmer grasp on her, ''Then we will never know the contents. If my cousin gave it for safekeeping, our priority should be to find why that is.''
Igneous didn't look convinced, ''Is there no other way of knowing if it poses danger? Must it be drank directly?''
''There is...'' Was Iona's affirmative, ''But I cannot do it here. The camp would be ideal.'' The other method wasn't for public use. ''If your theory proves false, then there is no harm done.''
''And hence it relieves your Teacher of guilt?'' It made the girl stop abruptly, mouthy slightly agape, ''To my knowledge, no one hoards more wine than Ganicus, and if Laertes truly adheres to teachings of Crypteia then he knows that alcohol dulls the senses and bends the mind toward wrong decisions.''
''...''
He ignored her speechless state, and in that moment of her inactivity he swiftly grabbed the little glass bottle from her fingers, a loud 'hey' being her only protest. He didn't waist time in putting it under his cloak and memorized it, sending a pull that flashed shortly along with the bottle now stored in his personal space. ''I don't know what Laertes meant by this, but if he didn't trust Darrhon enough and had us fast out of that place...'' And with the weird sensation that sent his body screaming for danger, Igneous now knew that things are about to change. ''The mission has changed. We are going back, to find out what truly dwells in the old man's abode.''
Despite the steel resolution of his voice, Iona stood rooted to the spot. ''You are wrong. Teacher is not a bad person.''
And therein lied the problem.
''Good, then perhaps he won't mind answering that for himself. If all goes well, then he will be left alone and Laertes was wrong, even better.'' He glanced back at her, still being reluctant to follow him.
''And if it doesn't? What will you do then, kill him like some common criminal?!'' Her expression was positively livid as she accused the red-headed man. ''You think I'm not aware how it is? The training you went through was so that it made you follow orders without fault. Teacher was right, Leonidas has made you just another soulless soldier who is willing to die for the cause!''
Igneous slowly turned towards her, his face blank. Then he moved.
Fear being mixed with ire then made her tongue even more loose, consequences be damned, ''... A-And what person in their right mind would even accept that – that thing! My own father went mad from its contents and had to be put down like a mindless animal!'' Tears started welling up at the corners of her eyes, ''Who are you to decide what is right or wrong... Or who are we for that mat... Nghh!''
Iona didn't get to finish her rant, because all that time she wasted on accusation Igneous chose to act. Swiftly, he took her dainty hand by the wrist and pinned her down at the nearby wall. He pressed against her, making her nearly invisible to the world, dipped his head low enough that his nose brushed her hair, ''Listen to me you fool and listen well, you are this close to exposing us screaming like a madwoman.'' He could feel her body stiffen, her breath hitch, but she didn't dare do anything else, and her heart was once again steadying. Good, she was paying attention.
''Now, this is how we will do things. I lead this mission, and my word is to be followed, you will cooperate to the best of your abilities and in return no harm will come to you, on that I swear. If we find that your old teacher harboured nefarious plans for this town I will deal with it, otherwise, we leave this place for good. Was I clear enough?''
''Yes...'' Being held like this didn't give Iona any room to move, and all she could do was whisper the word. This was another new side of Igneous she never thought she'd experience. And the feeling was gut-wrenchingly agonizing, just like when men would force themselves on a helpless women, right now all she wanted was to curl and weep in a dark place and not show her face for days. Especially her relatives. She should have known... Should have known that Igneous was still a man, and he knew exactly that in a situation like this he out-powered her by a large margin...
Not having any other choice, she braced herself for any form of punishment she would receive, for she knew all too well how Bellatorians were confident in a ways of men having to discipline their women.
It went without saying that next course of events left her bewildered. Igneous actually started leaning back, thus relieving his pressure on her body, his grip was on her wrist still remained but not as nearly with much force.
''Hey, you two...'' And a third voice cut in.
Iona wiped her eyes and took a peek around Igneous' larger frame, a plain-looking Bellatorian man in a brown tunic stood there watching them.
''Whatever plans you two had, do it away from my window.'' It couldn't have gotten any worse by this point.
''Apologies for the noise.'' Igneous didn't look as nearly as apologetic in his dismissive words, the way the other man was looking at him dubiously.
Iona was right in her assessment that dishonest way he said it would only cause anger. ''Gods could care less about that! Every fucking time some man tries to work his cock they find this place, of all the town, my place! Does it look like it was blessed by Venus?!''
Ions's first instinct was that she wanted to defend her honor and claim it was a misunderstanding, even more Igneous had the gall to look genuinely confused which quickly dissolved to anger. This was going to be one big mess, and she'd be damned to get caught in the middle of it. Time to do damage control.
Again, a situation she never thought she'd had to find herself in, today must really be special, ''We meant no offense, good man.'' She spoke to the stranger in a very soft mellow voice, ''We have been traveling for days, and my h-husband and I are tired. I spoke out of turn and it became a shouting match. Again, we deeply regret for disturbing your home.'' She bowed quickly and looked up at him with the most innocent face she could muster, widening her blue eyes just a tad more it stung from crying.
Two things happened. Igneous twitched hard once and became as useful as an unmoving statue. The Bellatorian though, still red-faced, although with a traces of embarrassment on his face took a step back from the supposed couple.
''F-Fine! You are fortunate to have such a well-behaved woman for a wife. I will look the other way, but only this once! Next time I see you I'm noting the guards, I have friends there... Now be gone!'' The man gestured with his hands.
''It worked?!'' The Colchian girl thought astonished as she was still grasping Igneous' hand and pulling him away.
''Husband and wife?'' Igneous spoke with a strained indignant tone. That's what she thought about as best solution?!
Iona's good mood from her little acting trick mellowed as he gave him a strange look. ''What? You were not helping and the last we needed were guards involved.'' She whispered in a lowered voice this time, that mistake should never happen again.
''I could have handled that man myself.''
''How is that? With your fists?''
The answer came delayed, ''... If it came to that.''
The girl repressed the urge to roll her eyes. Men, honestly, in some ways so predictable.
''I'm nothing like your father.'' Then again, in other ways...
''I...'' Everything she has said in her anger, every frustration that came out of her mouth with such disgrace... She couldn't take it back anymore.
''And I made it abundantly clear that I have no intention of dying. Do you remember why?''
She paused in her track, and then it came to her, how could she forget that detail. ''Your estranged father...''
Igneous made a grunt of confirmation, ''For now I work with Crypteia. Anything I can use that would help me closer to that goal, I will make full use of it.'' As he said, emphasizing 'with' instead of 'for', it should made that much distinction.
They were in a similar position in that regard, Iona mused sullenly, both left without either parent in early life. Igneous never even mentioned a mother, so it added to the grievance more. Gods know she only ever heard her father mention Io only a couple of times in her presence. All she knew was that she died of a disease shortly after giving birth to her, which also became one of the reasons she choose a path of a healer rather than a standard magic scholar or a fighter.
A tug pulled the girl from her thoughts and she looked to see that they were nearing the familiar house they left just under an hour ago.
''I will go first, you follow after.'' Igneous said somewhat in a tight tone, although he seemed to pause at a moment and directed his gaze halfway to his companion. ''Your arm.''
''... Eh?'' It took her a few precious seconds to figure out he was gesturing to their still connected hands. Since the act served its purpose he probably didn't feel the need to keep it up, still he was being unusually awkward about the simple gesture as holding hands. Didn't as a gladiator he get rewards in a form of drink and women? If so, why was holding her hand that off-putting to him, he certainly didn't have trouble showing a more aggressive side in subduing her.
''It would serve me well to have both hands for this.''
She knew she might regret it, getting on his bad side while trying to rattle his nerves, but just for the sake of her now slightly throbbing wrist that is sure to bruise in the near future, Iona couldn't resist the urge, ''But you are a big, strong man well of form. What if I were to fall into a trap, or worse, an unfriendly band of killers await us behind the closed doors? Is it not the duty of a spouse to remain close by?''
Again, Igneous twitched when a marital partner title was used, ''Woman, I know you can use magic to defend yourself... And cease with that act, will you?''
She withdrew her hand with a small huff, ''Fine, next time you try and find a good excuse for such shameless public display. If I hadn't taken action, that man could have very well caused serious problems.''
Serious problems that were a by-product of her mad rant, ''I am not apologizing for that.'' Igneous said firmly, because come what it may, he acted accordingly in his own opinion. Whatever came from that argument and the fact how Iona even thought of posing as a married couple was a good idea, it didn't appeal to him in the slightest.
''Then neither will I.''
The fire wielder barked a laugh, ''Finally, a thing we agree upon.'' He added sarcastically.
And so, the fake marriage dispute came to a conclusion. All that in a span of a few exchanged words.
As the half decent house came back to view, the two magic users of Crypteia steeled themselves for what's to come, not knowing what to expect, Igneous went first and grabbed the door handle...
Both were reasonably shocked at what their eyes laid upon at first sight...
XxX
''Ughhh...'' The first thing that came to him when he groggily tried to open his eyes was darkness. Total and utter darkness. He wasn't dead, that he was sure of, because it literally hurt to breathe. The surface was hard, the air was quite dry and somewhat foul smelling. The sensation of his limbs came as well, he was bound by arms and legs, ''Oh, how smart of them...'' And apparently gagged and blinded with another piece of cloth.
Well, somebody certainly wanted to induce a panic by robbing him of sight, talk and general sense of orientation. Hah, as if! They should have killed him right from the start, the fucking traitorous amateurs.
''...ds awake...''
''... be there now!''
So he wasn't alone, but apparently they didn't bother to keep a close eye on him. Another grave mistake, Laertes pondered as he felt that there was a stone wall behind him. Sitting up, he dragged his bound hands by the surface and looped them over his legs, finally taking of the blindfold and a gag to gasp a much needed amount of air.
''I told you not to leave him on his own, that man is a liar and a killer! Grab him!''
Just as he was in the process of getting a glimpse of the place his hands were yanked by two pair of hands, pathetic, but Gods did he feel drowsy still. Must be the effects of the drug wearing off. The old man sure had used his time away to make interesting things.
Pain suddenly struck him anew, his head ringing from the hit. It was definitely bare-handed, whoever that prick was, he was slowly making his way on the top of his hit list.
''Welcome to the world of the living again, your royal highness.''
A voice hissed in his ear as he was dragged to his feet. Standing on shaky legs, Laertes gritted his teeth, pushing through what felt like a boulders on his head to look at the culprits. The room they were in was dark, with the only source of light being from the entrance. They were above ground at least.
At last, there stood his captors. Three of them, two holding him on each side and one that stood across him, most likely the cause of his newly found headache. The weirdest thing, they all wore masks in various shapes, and had cowls cover their faces. How did they breathe through that thing?
''Not so high and mighty now, are we? Tell me, how do you like your new accommodations, hmm?''
Words were muttered, yet Laertes kept his head lowered. It prompted the apparent 'leader' of the group to yank his head forcefully bringing their eyes together, ''What was that? Speak u-GAH!''
It provided the bound man a much needed opening to deliver a nasty headbutt, it hurt that there was a mask in the way, but damn if it felt good. The older of the latest generation of Colchis family could only imagine how it felt to have a bashed nose covered by a thick cloth. If he were so lucky, the bastard would choke in his own blood.
Alas, it was too much to ask, as the man staggered before swiftly pulling at his face and struggling to remove the disguise. The poor young sods hesitated before the one on his left went to help, forgetting his task, and Laertes saw the gleam of something on his rope belt. His fucking knife in the hands of these idiots.
His training kicking in, a textbook repeated over and over went through his head. Elbow to the left, solid contact, it'll buy him little time. He sprung forward, pushing as much strength to his legs and finally snatching his favorite weapon.
''Forget about me, hold h – !''
A spray of blood not belonging to the masked man in question now marred his partially revealed face, only adding up to the amount of dripping from his nose. The now limp body, and lifeless eyes stared through the holes in the mask glued to his own as he fell to the ground completely. The added weight now doubled by a scary sight of Laertes, mad-eyed and royally pissed off.
''You stupid, brainless whoreson!'' The son of Pollux Colchis bellowed, blood-shot eyes glaring at the traitorous scum that tried to wiggle his way from beneath him and the corpse. ''I said; shove them where light doesn't reach!''
The dagger carrying death sentence was falling, and Theramenes only watched his life about to be extinguished with nary a half revealed eye...
''Δεσμεύω!''
The bright violet light sailed, striking Laertes in the chest. The man screamed in pain as his back connected to the walls.
Theramenes blinked in daze.
''Goodness, perhaps we should have exercised more caution after all.''
Darrhon's silhouette approached, unlike his heavy posture back home, he was standing upright, with nary a look befitting a man of advanced age his exterior still portrayed. He looked at his downed long-serving associate, sighing he offered a hand and propped the unsteadily breathing man up, ''Clear your head now. Breaths even. There...'' it was akin to diagnosing and treating at the same time, ''It was a mistake on my part, I should have administered the dose even further.''
Theramenes, now only slightly feeling better, shook his head, ''No... No, it wasn't your fault, Elder.'' He knelled, removing the mask of now dead young man, Hellenian, former slave brought under their household, ''I grew overconfident, seeing him beaten and I lapsed in my judgement... Ohh Gods, young Asterio.''
Laertes, years of endurance training keeping him awake, spat at the scene, ''Pathetic... If this is all your efforts could amount to, then you are all dead men.''
Theramenes flinched, while removing the knife from now deceased Asterio's throat, ''I knew we should have killed you while you slept... Did it feel good, robbing this young life like cutting a sapling to it's root?!'' His eyes almost stung, but he kept them open, gazing wide at the spell-bound Laertes, ''Tell me, you heartless scum?! Does it ever end, do you never look back and regret your choice?!''
Laertes pulled a sneer over his face, the hot spear of pain ever burning inside him, but he learned to control the pain. He always had to be in control, never the opposite. That's what his father taught him, 'Be it ours, theirs or even own kin, never let it affect your decision.'
So in that regard, he felt some form of regret, as the fool of a turncoat so mentioned, ''I feel it... The only regret I feel is that we haven't reached that boy before you did.'' He was helpless now, the magic holding him down was strong, very potent. How did an unsuspecting healer even master something like this anyway? But, being helpless did not qualify as useless, he could still undermine their plot, they obviously wanted him alive, else why bother with immobilizing him with only drugs and a few ropes?
''You...!''
''That is quite enough, both of you.'' Darrhon, the silent party, decided now to interfere. Casting a sidelong glance at his grieve-stricken friend, he cleared his throat and spoke with all authority he could muster, ''Take the body to the fields.''
The usually demure man froze for a second, raising his head to see if the old healer was joking, but found no traces of humor in his expression, ''But, that would mean...''
''To the fields.''
Carefully scooping the cooling body, Theramenes gestured to the other surviving member to follow, which the wheezing young person reluctantly did, head bowed all the way as he passed the Elder.
Darrhon sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead, ''It is no simple task being a leader in charge of a larger group... Truly, I must commend those who find the will to walk that path.''
''Hmph, you are nothing but a walking corpse.'' The only left company made his presence known.
Instead of being offended, Darrhon allowed an easy smile to grow on his face, ''I was never a fighter, that much you already knew.'' His chuckle was almost hollow, and his eyes held nothing that Laertes could glean from, ''Tell me something, young prin –''
''Oh, stop wasting your breath. It's not as if it holds meaning to any of you.''
'' – ce Colchis, I can't help but wonder, how is it that you ended up on my doorstep at this exact time. Was there something specific you were looking for? I know for that matter, Idyia would never even bother if I was already dead or dying. What did Crypteia hope to find on my person?''
''...''
''Come now, I'm sure you people don't suffer the lack of healers.'' The young Colchis was good at hiding his emotions, yet there is more than one way of fishing out for answers. Like a well-practiced surgery, you carefully locate the cause, ''What does this old man have in his possession so precious it would mark him such a prime target to your little shadow group?''
''...''
Not even a twitch? He had to go deeper then, ''A thing so precious only legends ever whisper of it, that many would be tempted to kill, lie, or betray others just so they can obtain that which evades all men of medicine...'' He made a brief pause, knowing that even in such injured state, Laertes' mind is capable of finding what his words alluded to.
Once all the dots have been connected, there was but one answer at the end.
''Hey- Hey, hey, hey-''
''Hmm?''
''THE FUCK YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT?!'' The older man blinked at the outburst, he certainly was expecting a severe reaction but not by such degree. ''There is just no way, that you of all people would have that!''
''And yet here we are. Judging by your reaction, your wise grandmother didn't even bother to tell you the true purpose of your quest.''
Laertes' face was rapidly changing the shades of red, ''Like shit!'' He heaved a huge breath, ''I am never going to believe that someone like you, under the noses of fucking Bellatorians could produce the very something even the rulers of the dead would shudder to think! You – You are a fucking failure of a healer!'' There was absolutely no way in hell, because such a thing would clash against everything the Laws of Balance stood for.
Laughter resonated the chamber, Darrhon's face was full of mirth at the conclusion, ''Ahh, the audacity of youth,'' Although there was a bit of truth in those angered words spoken, ''You are right about one thing; I am a failure. And as such, from one failure to another, I will have you witness with me the final turning point in this entirely ridiculous pot of deceit you and your comrades helped stoke over the years.''
Laertes' eyes widened at that. He couldn't have! He tried to overrule the binding spell by leaking on with his own reserves, and just as he felt he was making progress-
''Δεσμεύω! Δεσμευομαι!''
The command struck his very mind, overwriting his thoughts, enclosing his consciousness into the veil of fog. His last bit of will before submitting to the effects were toward the caster. You... DIE!
''What a useful piece of magecraft.'' Darrhon mused, as with a command of his finger the body of Laertes started floating like a light piece of fabric in the wind. He staggered towards the exit, and used his hand to stifle a coughing fit, while the other quickly went inside his robes and produced a small bottle of bluish liquid. Downing the contents in one gulp, he sighed as the effects started to work their magic on his body's internals. ''Heh, such a vile thing...'' He commented lightly before flinging the glass vial that broke into many shards upon stone.
Once he was back on track, another sensation, this time not life-threatening but almost shockingly inducing caught his attention, as a stone covered in glyphs cracked in his other pocket. ''Now that is unexpected. But I wonder, what will you do now, children? A champion and a healer... What an ill-matched pair...''
The stage was already set and the things were in motion. What will emerge at the end of the day is beyond a doubt a new era.
To think it all started, with one Μαύρο βιβλίο.
XxX
''This is quite a...'' The girl prolonged a sentence, not sure what to make out of the scene.
''... I once slept in a doghouse better than this.''
Iona grimaced, not wanting to further inquire why he had to sleep in such a place unfitting for a person. Curiously, Igneous has shared a lot more offhanded remarks that had to do with his life than in any other occasion in the past month. Maybe he was getting more comfortable around people other than a selected few gladiators she saw him share a conversation. Admittedly, those talks probably never touched the subject on his past or present life.
''But, we were not absent that long,'' About an hour tops, the house was located in a less pleasant part of the town, right on the edge, ''How could they have disappeared like that?''
It was a mess, various shelves were overturned, some pots laid broken, the kitchen area was as if someone raided it. The only thing that was left mostly intact was furniture, but stripped of all wool and fabric.
Igneous hummed, eyes carefully scanning the area, until they fell on the dining area. Woodwork was broken, chipped somewhat. ''Signs of a fight...'' He thought as he ran his fingers over the rough edge, there was blood, and judging by the state of it, it was recent.
Iona walked down from the upper levels, having found it in the pretty much same state as all other rooms. ''Nothing on the upper floor... Do you have anything?''
The red-head presented her with the only evidence he managed to acquire so far, suffice to say it got the fair girl agitated.
''That's... It cannot be his?''
She again watched as Igneous practically smeared the stain across his nostrils, taking a big whiff. It was not a pleasant sight for sure, yet seeing him work his way around the scene did stir a mixed feelings in her. One made her stomach turn, which she tried to quell with various images of wounds, frostbites and split bones she tended to over the years.
''He was here, your cousin... And the old man. There was a struggle, but it didn't last long. He was either overpowered by numbers or, there was some other influence. Magic, I can't be certain. Then, he was most likely incapacitated by that table... Forced out of the house, bound... There are dragging marks all over the floor, and many other from a footwear. Everyone was in a hurry to leave.'' Finished with his analysis, Igneous pondered on the off-chance that a bunch of untrained youth from what he saw, servants and former house-slaves plus one old man managed to bring down an armed grown man whose prowess was infiltration and short blade proficiency...
''What?'' He asked suddenly, noticing Iona's prolonged starring. ''I spoke wrong?''
It's actually the opposite, sort of, ''No, that was the most I hear you speak in one turn since we departed Conlina.''
The man raised an unimpressed brow, ''You claim I speak too little?''
Shrugging sheepishly, Iona responded, ''Not to sound offensive, but you are quite tacit when it doesn't concern leading an attack or having a strategical meeting.''
Of course it was only logical he take part in giving orders and organizing which men are best suitable for certain tasks. How else was he supposed to lead a rebellion of some thousand people? Was there even that much, he didn't know how many more joined since the start.
''Is that so?'' He asked rhetorically, shaking his head to focus on the present and file the girl's scrutiny for later, ''Mhmm, regardless, since there is not much to use here, we should move out.''
Next question was, how they managed to sneak out of here with an unconscious body without anyone raising a voice. Sure it was in the backblocks, but someone must've seen something out of place. ''Iona, could they have acce – What is it?'' He halted his suggestion seeing the girl move further to the back and examining a... plain wall?
''This wall is wrong.''
A blink. ''The wall?''
Nodding slowly, she glanced back at Igneous who looked confused, ''How to explain... Some mages can, by enchanting an enclosed space extend and temporary modify it to the certain limit without needing to use actual physical labor for it.''
Realization dawned as soon as he heard it, ''I saw something very similar in the capital. Commander has an entire chamber underneath the Consul's house builded. It is where I first arrived.''
''Yes, though I doubt he was the one who made the whole place. His powers can be... They are not meant for a delicate construction work.''
A thoughtful nod on Igneous' side, so Leonidas was not all that calm and composed when it came to use of his abilities. To be fair, he never much saw the man demonstrate any large scale use oh his earth manipulation, there was still more that lied underneath. He almost snorted at the comparison. ''And you think it is the similar case here? Well, I admit, it does sound more probable than my idea.''
They both acquiesced on that part, while Iona tried to work out the way to find the hidden lever or a similar contraption, Igneous stood watch. She didn't really mind the silence, but having someone quietly stand behind her while she works like this made her slightly uncomfortable, so she decide to use a chance for a little more idle talk.
''What was it then? Your idea that was so improbable?'' She questioned with a small dose of humor.
Igneous scratched his head, not sure should he mention that, maybe it wasn't worth it in his mind, but now that she went and asked, well, she'll continue to pester him anyway so why not indulge her. ''Nothing too grand. I thought they managed to sneak out in those invisible cloaks.''
The two word term brought Iona to immediate stop. Did she just heard that right? Her shoulders shook from the suppressed laugh, yet it didn't went by from the warrior's eye.
''And I now realize that it wasn't only dumb, but it's also laugh inspiring. Gratitude.'' He rolled his eyes, not that she could see it.
Iona somehow suppressed the giggles, but had to take much air from it, ''Hehe, no, no! It's nothing like that, I swear!''
The dry look he gave her said otherwise.
''Heho-Ho-Honestly! I didn't think you would know about them. T-They don't make a person invisible, it's akin to an environmental immersion some animals use. More useful in the dark than the day.''
So that's how it was, didn't make him feel any less stupid though. An environmental immersion? ''Huh, big words roll off the tongue. Circe certainly didn't explain it like that...'' He added the last part as an afterthought, and immediately wanted to bite his own tongue off when he remembered sharing words with the eccentric sorceress.
Iona's posture went stiff again, and all the good humor dried from her voice like a pond in a desert sand, ''Ahhh, did she now? What else did the two of you talk about?'' She tried to sound nonchalant while continuing her previous work of examining the wall.
Well, that escalated quickly. Iona sure went through enough moods today to last her an entire year. ''Nothing much.'' Denial is the most promising weapon, she will lose interest quickly, and everything will go back to normal.
''No?''
''Ugh, fuck the Gods...'' It wasn't meant to be, he wasn't going to get out of this one. Should've known that Iona knew Circe well enough growing up and was familiar with the inner workings of their mutual comrade more so than him.
''That is odd, indeed. She usually never keeps her mouth closed. Then again, when around strangers who she spends a considerable time with...'' Her eyes suddenly gained a strange maniacal twist Igneous never imagined she could pull off, ''Did you, by chance, somehow manage to force her flying mouth shut?''
The implications were not lost on the man this time around, would she even stop talking during that time? ''No. And I would be grateful if you never implied that kind of thing again.''
''What kind of 'thing'?'' She asked innocently.
''You know what I mean.'' He ground out, now he was certain she was doing it as a form of payback for what happened outside. Women can be really petty, Iona wasn't an exception.
''Then, you didn't bound her, limbs and mouth, leaving her to hang from the ceiling like a chicken for slaughter?''
''...''
What the actual fuck?!
''A pity...'' Small sigh escaped Iona's lips, interpreting the silence as a 'no'. ''... I would have.''
''... Just what kind of a relationship do you two have?'' Igneous asked, out of the mini-stupor at a whacked up members of his group who all seem to have certain fetishes buried underneath the surface. Iona seemed to have a mild sadistic streak, or was that again something from their past? Circe sure as hell sounded very disparaging when mentioning the younger girl. He decided not to bring out the 'wound-dressing princess' comment and keep it for himself.
''I see, that's how it is.'' The healer apparently completely disregarded the question, ''That column over there,'' She pointed the one on the opposite end of the wall, ''It is a form of a joint lock, requiring two people to open it.''
''You are certain it can be done? No protective charms?'' If there were some, then it'd just complicate things, maybe for anyone that wasn't him, ''You know, I can very well force it to open.''
He punctuated by having his fist glow orange, but not allowing flames to manifest.
Iona shook her head rapidly, turning towards him in warning, ''Absolutely not!'' It was the worst kind of scenario they could've tried here, ''If you do, the damage might cause the path to collapse and weaken the structure.''
''Then what, don't we need a key?'' Though, there were no crevices or any kind of key-holes that he could see.
''Not in a sense you might be thinking,'' She stopped him before he posed some other mundane question, ''All you need to do is follow my instructions. The locking mechanism responds to the exact amount of Mana you pour into it, and the right corresponding of Od shape manipulation. But, we have not the time to figure it out, hence we will push the doors very hard.''
Igneous positioned himself against the other embedded column, placing his hand slightly above the sigil that could pass as a mere childish squiggle to the untrained eye, ''How is that any different from my proposal?''
Iona gave him a look one might expect of a disappointed teacher to a pupil who didn't listen, ''Because I'm the one doing it, of course.'' She secretly enjoyed how he struggled the urge to put up a fight, but when it came to theory, there is no beating her on this.
Igneous merely settled for something that was half growl and half cussing, not that the girl could try to make it out being focused on the job at hand. After an incantation that he barely heard, which sounded like a mindless chatter Iona's sigil glowed soft white.
''Now, channel your own energy into it, but do NOT under any circumstances let it run rampart. Least we find ourselves under heaps of rubble, alright?''
''Fine...''
''You must follow my instructions and let it out at the exact moment.''
''Yes, o' Wise one.''
She was tempted to let him fail and suffer a backlash just for the remark, yet current situation dictated otherwise. Instead, Iona focused on the task and getting the timing right. Locks like this generally work the best by the one's who set them, naturally. It imprints their own Ether shape and recognizes it as a command to let the passer through.
Skilled enough mages can definitely analyze and crack the special 'code' and bypass the doors. Or those powerful enough, like Igneous, can try and force their way in with nothing but their own brutish manipulation of Mana. Since that was counterproductive, and she was considerably less capable than her grandmother or Circe, it only left her one route. She will basically, cheat the door momentarily recognizing her own signature, and when the rigid pins keeping the door unmoving would try and kick her out that's where Igneous will simply flood the makeshift gap she produced. The timing is key, ironically, if they miss it by fraction it would cause a violent reaction.
Her brow furrowed in concentration, she tried to keep her breath even, what is it with Bellatorian houses and their poor aeration?! Was it always so suffocating here?
A pinch forced her hand back a little, no good, she almost slipped there. Damn, this was something impressive indeed, how did her Teacher not being a proper mage even have this brought here is beyond her. ''Come now, let me in, just a bit more... Annnnd, there we go!''
''Igneous, now! Pour a great amount!''
Not being finely tuned and having a vast pool of magical reserves was a boon in this case, however, Igneous could hardly understand what exactly constituted as a 'great amount'. How does one even quantify the amount of magical energy?
So, when she told him to go overboard, she didn't imagine it would practically cause an overflow in the lock. The sigil she worked on as a terminus seared an angry colour of red, before a popping noise of firewood burning echoed for the entirety of one second. And one second was all it took...
''Ghh...'' Today, Iona learned of new kind of pain. Backing away, she was almost hesitant to look at the damage to her arm, but found it in her inner medicus to examine the damage properly. It was nasty, but fortunately her hand was not a lost cause if the pain was any indication. Oh, and she thought that Igneous' grip hurt, his fire was on another level of pain.
Speaking of Igneous, the man backed away as the both columns suddenly clicked and with a heavy noise of stone grinding against soot, they started sliding downward until it revealed a cavity, crudely made for sure, but still enough for people to pass through. However, it caught his attention that Iona wasn't in a celebratory mood, and his eyes widened when he went to find why that is.
''What happe-...?'' Then the smell of burning flesh caught his nose, ''Iona?''
Said girl backed to a corner and crouched, clutching her throbbing limb, not paying attention to the caller, but taking even breaths to wrestle the amount of signals her brain received from the damage. It was clouding her mind, honestly, so much she wanted to drift away for the rest of the day. If warriors can handle all manners of anguish that came with their occupation, this had to be one of the worst ways of getting injured.
''Iona! What happened to your arm?!'' Leaving Igneous hanging was a bad idea, for how else would he get a response if not taking a more direct approach, the one that included shaking her shoulder.
She wanted to lash at him, she really did. All manners of curses and bad words just flying out of her mouth, such which she never thought would be of use to her in life. ''It's nothing...'' She spoke through gritted teeth, ''It... The blame is on me. I miscalculated that the amount would spread so fast, I didn't pull out sooner... Tehehe, only a failure of a mage would do that...''
She was self-deprecating, just like when one does something and cannot accept that a consequences were now irreversible. But this was no training accident, it was a first time Igneous actually felt hurt inside... For no matter if she was right and this was all her idea and method they went with, the end result was not always so favourable. He thought that maybe they should have pursued other options, but found it pointless contemplating now when all was well said and done.
''Let me have a look.'' He decided that the only way to deal with the consequences of their actions, is facing forward. Always forward, like every time he found himself hitting a bump in life.
Iona peeked slightly through her now out of place bangs, ''I think the leading expert on injuries here is still me...'' Regardless, she brought out the hand for him to see, but surprisingly there was no disgust on his face. He didn't seem to acknowledge how her newly acquired blisters and skin tone didn't mach with the rest.
''How do you treat this?''
Okay, his tone was very much lacking any empathy than Iona was used to, which might have ticked her off. Yet she had to remember that he has almost none medicinal knowledge and doesn't know how to behave when someone was in a need of the same kind of attention. So just like with the doors, she decided to lead him the same way she did earlier, this time without chances of experiencing a flaming parting gift for her efforts.
''I need milk, either that or honey... Try and find if there is any left.''
He was up in a span of a second and roamed the house all the while sniffing the air in trying to find that which fit the description. ''Does the state of the milk matter?'' His voice came from another part, but she still heard him loud and clear.
''Fresh would be best...!'' She said as loud as she could, followed by a whimper when a new wave of ache struck her for that action alone. He said he can hear better than animals, so why did she bother with that? Damn, she was still in shock and couldn't even think straight! Gods, burns are really the worst!
Waiting for Igneous wasn't helping put an ease on her mind, so she, no matter how pointless it was, tried to cool her hand with nothing but her breath. Why, oh why, dis she not try to learn even a rudimentary cooling spell? It'd be better than nothing. She filed that thought away as a reminder, if she could still think properly in the next few minutes. ''And why is it taking so long?!''
Her wish was finally granted when Igneous returned with a ceramic pot of something, hopefully her relief, and it took all her will not to bolt upright and snatch the vessel from his hands. What's the point though, she only had one working hand now...
As soon as he planted it in front of her, she wasted not a moment in plunging her limb into the white, she happily noted, substance inside. A cooling sensation immediately took over, washing away momentarily any pain away. ''Uwahhhhhh... Aunt was right, it really helps...''
Igneous shifted somewhat uncomfortably at the delirious state of the girl, as if she switched her persona. He has hear Iona angry, bitter, displeased, but never like this. It was... Well, too girly or something. Such changes in demeanor often caught him off-guard especially when he had already builded a predispositioned picture of her character.
''It's slightly sour.'' He supplied lamely, he didn't know if that affected the recovering process. Iona gave a sigh that Igneous thought bordered on pleasurable he only ever heard when more rowdy gladiators demanded a reward of flesh, it didn't sound half-bad in his opinion but it was so tiresome listening to it almost every other week. Enhanced hearing didn't do him any good there, and even after becoming a champion with his own separate quarters, it only managed to muffle the sound.
Not aware of where Igneous' thoughts drifted, the Hellenian healer fished a white rolled-up cloth and proceeded to drench it in milk. After squeezing out the generous amount she tried wrapping it around her hand, but the task was not so easy when applying it to oneself, she noted. ''Can you finish the knot?''
''Huh?'' Igneous replied intelligently, having suffered from a particularly nasty memory of Ganicus and Morios comparing their nightly activities.
''Help me tie it down, it's not that easy with one hand.'' He seemed to wander of, what could he possibly be thinking? ''Most likely how we are being slowed down by my predicament...'' It made sense if it was him.
''Will you be fine to continue like this?'' He asked after finishing a complicated knot that was bound to hold, he gave it the an extra squeeze for insurance, watching as Iona wince but make no noise of complaint.
Well, that was hardly a surprise, ''It's not ideal,'' She said, inspecting his and her handiwork, it will have to hold, before she had to reapply the base on another occasion, hopefully by tomorrow. ''It will have to be enough, now that we found that door, all that is left is to follow the path.'' To Teacher, she wanted to add, but couldn't find it within her to do so. Because to do so would mean incriminating him to the full extent, and that her cousin was in a life-threatening danger.
She just didn't want to believe the facts presented to her, not until she can confront him in person, to hear the truth from his own mouth.
Igneous hummed, she tried to sound indifferent, but the mood was almost palpable the way she was projecting her gloom, ''Whatever we may find on the other end, know that I won't think any less of you... For to face the person dear to heart knowing they might have wronged you, it takes an admirable strength.''
Did he just compliment her on strength? Him of all people, it brought a half-smile to her face, not fully reaching her eyes but it was there, plain as a day, ''To think you would commend a non-fighter on their strength, I am grateful, even if I think it was misplaced...'' He nodded, feeling better his words brought her some form of comfort. Once he turned to lead them ahead, Iona grabbed his slipping arm with her healthy one suddenly, ''Um, it's dark there, uh, and I think keep close. W-Who knows if there might be anything else unexpected, yes?''
When he went to call her on her redundant fear of dark places, his ears picked up a sound of approaching footsteps... Many footsteps of all weights and sizes. No good, they left the door open and had to-
''Is there anyone home? I'm here for the Medicus...''
''Shit, now of all t –''
''Mother I found someone!'' The didn't even get to move as light steps rushed through the corridor and a juvenile voice, not yet properly developed, exclaimed. In front of them stood a gaping ten-year old girl, small, with head full of chocolate locks, followed by another woman who was their age, dressed in fading gray robe and with a leather on her neck. Slave, a keeper?
''Messalina, you should not run ahead! Do you not recall last ti –... Oh, my... Uhhh...'' She too froze, more so from the appearance of Igneous, who had his illusion by Laertes not re-applied. His scar and bright flaming hair was for all to see. The way that he was practically glowering at them, made her take a step back and clutch the little girl to her leg. ''A-Apologies, we-we did not know it was-'' And just then did she notice the state of the interior as if a storm passed by not long ago. Were they that unlucky to stumble upon a criminal act taking place?!
''Vidia, Messalina, what has gotten in the two of you? And why is the house in such state?'' A more rich voice now entered the sight, a finely red dress with no wrinkles, a silver rings adoring both arms and a pearl-centered necklace, the ostentatious woman of clearly higher status arrived.
''D-Domina...'' The now named Vidia stuttered, too frightened to put two words together.
''Why are you standing there as if a pair of statues, let me pass,'' She complained finally breaking free. Caecilia has been a witness to many things lacking in ever since her husband has been given a new position in Duranius and forcing them to move more inland from the gentle sea breeze. The town was in the process of being birthed, and like her own two past times she knew that it will look quite messy.
Still, she wouldn't let that ruin her immaculate plans, she had no intention to let the surrounding scenery discourage her. So she had almost the entirety of her old household moved here, including the drapes. Of course one couldn't expect a newly formed town to keep up with such speed, but it has been half a decade and very few residences look up to standard of a typical Bellatorian proper family. But that could all change, in time, and some effort. Yet of all that has been done over the years, she once caught a wind from a marketplace of a rather peculiar man living here.
He was Hellenian, but a free man, with practice in medicinal fields. The peddler which supplied her house with grain claimed he healed his nearly dead wife in just a few days. She had a rather nasty cough, and poor lungs. Naturally, she had to get to the bottom of this, call it simple curiosity, but having a good Medicus available on hand was always a good thing. Tracking him down was easy task, he lived in an insula, and a rather poor one at that, badly constructed, a raining roof. What made him very interesting was the way he could look at a person and tell what ails them, he assumed she came for treatment and almost down to the letter described how she was in an early stages of post-birth and the way she walked indicated an injury she once sustained in a rather nasty fall. It was embarrassing, the audacity of the man, but all he has claimed was simply truth.
Again, naturally, she didn't want to let this one slip her grasp, last one she hired gave her a weird-smelling pain killer. When she took it to old Darrhon, he claimed it was a dried skin mixed with oils and some water. Both were taken to her husband, her previous physician under the threat of flogging confessed. He was still flogged and branded a liar, but the lesson was harsh and it struck true. Ever since then she would have visits to his place from time to time, and he was handsomely compensated for his efforts. She even convinced her husband that he should be allowed to have his helpers, after a number of hours arguing it was ridiculous that a plebeian and Hellenian at that can own slaves, he caved in. But only that the old man may have a limited number of seven slaves, and that legally, they were not bound by him but instead Caecilia being a kind of a proxy.
It worked at the end, and they lived with that style to this very day.
Until she found that he was not here when she needed him, the house was like it had the worst arrangers, and that two persons she has never seen, stood in the middle of the backroom. A young girl, with very exotic features and hair that seemed to glow in dark that made her jealous as a woman. Her companion, whatever he was, towered everyone in the room including her bodyguard, who she noticed never took his hand of his weapon.
A pin could be heard dropping.
The silence was broken by the most unsuspecting of occupants. ''Are we in the wrong house, Mother?''
The innocent question shook her out of stupor, she regarded her middle child, ''No, Messalina, we most certainly are not. Now, if you wouldn't mind telling us what is going on here, I have a rather urgent meeting with the owner. Anything we should know?''
Igneous and Iona exchanged wary glances, now that the attention was solely on them. One conclusion was obvious even without having to out loud state it, describing the situation in the most keen way possible.
Jupiter's cock/Hades' arse.
Hooowwee! I'm not dead, I'm DEFINITELY NOT! Nice try COVID-19, SARS and Swines have tried, but there's no getting to me, hah!
Though why it took so long, well, my schedule is hectic. Truly, keeping safe from getting infected trying to earn for life when the world has gone to media-frenzy induced shit, is weighing down on me and my writing muse. Still, I tried, and tried I did. Voila my dear readers, tell me what you think, be honest and constructive, or just supportive if you wish to.
Trolls and flamers who prolly never bothered to write something in life, I feel sorry for wasting your time in trying to type those measly few words that barely affect me. Honestly.
In conclusion, PM if you got more questions that need an in deep explanation, or if you'd broach any subject related to the Fairy Tale, Fanfiction or life in general, I'm always willing to listen.
Stay safe, keep healthy, and most important of all – TO HELL WITH COVID!